Average cost to replace tire tube on bike?

Question

Or would it be cheaper (well obviously cheaper) to do it myself? And if that is recommended, how do you do it? thanks.

Answer 1

It's an easy job with the right tools.
If you are replacing the TIRE and the TUBE both, you can expect that a new tire will be anywhere from about $10 to $80 and a tube to be about $4-6.
Installing them yourself will save you probably about $10 if you are doing both Tube and Tire together, or about $5 if it is just the tube.
Assuming your bike is equipped with Quick Release Skewers which allow easy removal/re-installation of the wheel, the only other tools I would recommend would be a good set of "tire levers" which you can find at your local bike shop for about $3, DO NOT USE SCREWDRIVERS as they can ruin the Tire, Tube and/or RIM!!!). These will allow you to dig under the bead of the tire (the part that locks into the rim itself) and you can then use the other end to hook them to one of the spokes. Do this with 2 levers a few inches apart, and use the third lever to peel the tire off the rim.
If you are only installing a TUBE, don't take the whole tire off, as you can install a new tube through just 1 side of the tire.
Once you have peeled 1 side of the tire off of the rim, simply pull the old tube out gently, feel around the entire inside of the tire and rim to see if you can feel anything that could have caused the tire to go flat, check the rim tape (at the bottom of the rim channel, where the spokes come into the rim) and look to see if there are any exposed holes or spoke tips. If so, make sure to get the rim tape realigned to cover the holes or spoke ends to ensure you don't have to repeat this process again.
Sprinkle a little baby powder into the tire, and coat the entire inside of the tire with a thin coat of the powder, as this will help make future tube changes VERY EASY because the tube won't stick to the inside of the tire.
Then place the new tube into the rim, starting with the valve, and working your way around. It's not a bad idea to pump a TINY BIT if air into the tube so that it isn't completely flat... just enough for it to start opening up ever so slightly, as this will help you prevent pinching the tube between the Tire and the Rim.
Once you have done that, simply start pushing the bead of the tire back into the rim, a little bit at a time, making sure that you can't see the tube in between the Tire and the Rim at ANY POINT! This part is CRUCIAL! If you CAN see the tube coming up, just back the bead out of the rim, tuck the tube up into the tire a little further, and continue working your way around.
It is usually easy enough to put the bead into the rim, that you might not need to use the tire levers to push it in all the way. If you DO, again, be sure not to pinch the tube while you pry the bead of the tire back into the rim.
Once you have the bead of the tire all the way inside the rim, simply go around the whole wheel and check both sides to be sure the tube isn't visible anywhere, and if it is, just work the tire side to side until the tube seats back inside the tire.
Slowly inflate the tire (preferably with a hand or floor pump and NOT a gas station compressor!) while keeping an eye on the side that you installed the tube through. If you see any part of the bead wanting to come up above the side of the rim, just take the pump off, and deflate the tube, re-seat the tire, make sure the tube isn't pinched, and begin again.

If you have followed those procedures closely, all you need to do now is inflate to proper operating pressure which can be found on the sidewall of the tire.
Once that is done, reinstall the wheel back on the bike, and start riding!
Trust me, I added MUCH more detail than is really necessary. I can do an entire tube change in under 2 minutes while observing all of the above stated safety guidelines!

Try it, but buy a couple tubes while you are at the shop, just in case!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

It depends of the origin of the problem: It could be a piece of wire, thorn or shard of glass causing the puncture and it could still be embedded on the tire. It could be a numbers of the same. Locating them and extracting could be additional time. It could be that some embedded thorns, shards or wires would remain in the tire working their way into the tube. It could be multiple punctures requiring several patches. It could be a leaky valve. It could be a torn rim tape that needs to be replaced. It could be that you need a new tube. It could be that you need a tire. It could be that the rim is rusted inside and you need a whole new rim, spokes and nipples or a whole new wheel. So it could be anywhere from $5 to $100. That will give you something to think about. Or you could use your paranoia in a positive way to fix your own bike. You can do it better than anybody. A real paranoid person would not ride a fixie. What about your knees?

Answer 3

I just did my sons' bmx bike $6.50 for the tube. It is not too hard but you do need a couple of tools. 2 wrenches to loosen the wheel and take it off. 2 or 3 screw drivers to pry one side of the tire off the flange of the rim then take out the old tube. slightly inflate the new tube so it is round and position it in the tire, make sure the valve stem goes through the rim squarely. use the screw drivers to seat the tire around the rim. It helps to have an extra hand for this. Re-attatch the rim then inflate the tire to the proper pressure.

Answer 4

If you ride a cheap bike like a huffy change it yourself 3to4 bucks if you have nice wheels have it done so you dont mess it up. 10-15 bucks tops! If you do it yourself listen to the guy above me!

Answer 5

20-35

Answer 6

4 bucks the most to buy a new one 10 dollars to have them do it :)

Answer 7

no it may not be cheaper to do-it-yourself.good chance you will screw it up,pay someone the 15 bucks or so to get it done right